The Best of Me

I look away... afraid to say... what's really on my mind

It's hard to contemplate my life without you but it's ten times harder if you were to stay

I've changed, end of story... I hope you understand

Please don't be mad

I know you love me more then life itself

But if you were true to your word... you'll let go of me and the love we had

I'm so in love with you... this is hard to break

But life is too short

I have to think about what's important and y'know I can't have it both ways

I want to see the world for myself - not through anyone else's eyes but my own

Experience it first hand, soak in the sights... be who I want to be

In that time... for that place

I know you're angry... you can't see straight... the ominous red cloud covering your face

I hope that time will heal the hurt I've caused

Allow you to understand, it hurts the most

I have to leave... have to go

But know... I did it for the best... the best for me... I'll only know.

Melanie's Worth: Part Thirteen

Melanie opened her eyes slowly, adjusting to the morning sun streaming through the window. She yawned and got up looking to her side and realising that Sam was looking straight at her, she grabbed the bed cover.

"Good morning, how are you feeling?" Sam asked thoughtfully.

"Bloody great, I'm starving though," Melanie said, stifling a yawn.

"A woman after my own heart," Sam grinned, "What do you fancy eating?" as he dragged himself out of the bed stark naked to retrieve the menu from the other side of the room. Melanie couldn't keep her eyes off of him.

"I know what I would much prefer," Melanie said sheepishly

"You read my mind," Sam laughed and jumped on her.

An hour or so later, Melanie and Sam ordered half of what was on the Room Service Menu and proceeded to devour everything on the trolleys. It was a romantic setting, eating gorgeously freshly made food on a king sized bed with the man of her dreams, could it get any better? They talked about numerous things and something inside Melanie dissipated. She wasn't going to expect anything nor demand he marry her this instance.

"What are you thinking about?" Sam said, popping a grape into his mouth.

"Just thinking about cleaning," Melanie lied, "She couldn't afford to muddle the waters with her feelings."

"Okay... so what do you have planned today?" Sam asked, "If you've got absolutely nothing, I was hoping you would be able to spend it with me."

"I ah... well... I would love too but... actually, no that's sounds great," Melanie smiled.

"Have you got something to do?" Sam asked.

"I'm looking for work, it's fine doing the ironing day in and day out but I've run out of clothes to iron and I'm in desperate need to get something to tie me down... otherwise the resources I came with are slowly drying out."

"I can help you with that actually," Sam said, "What kinda roles are you looking for?"

"Preferably something that isn't public relations, what have you got?" Melanie said.

"Great, let me call up Alyson and pass her your details." Sam said reassuringly.

"Thanks," Melanie said.

"No problem... so now that I've sorted out the job for you... now I have you all to myself." Sam said, kissing her.

TWO MONTHS LATER

"This is a beautiful creation, I've never... wow," Melanie said filling her hands full of Swarovski crystals and chiffon, "I hope, I will be able to pull it off."

"You can pull off anything, unlike me. I'm a beached whale," Dawn said looking at her expanding bump, "It's a simple tailor made Zac Posen dress for me. I swear, guys have it so easy when it comes to style, put on some suit and they're classic."

"Well, never thought I'd actually say this, but I can't wait for all this stuff to be over... I hate the paparazzi."

"Yes, but you love Sam, don't you?" Dawn teased, "And I'm mighty sure, you would go hell and high water for him."

"I never thought I'd actually say this about anyone but I yeah, I would."

"Well, I'm sure this gruelling part of their job will be great then, because you'll be with him and it'll be enchanting especially with what you're wearing. Beautiful. Can't wait." Dawn quipped.

"And why are you so excited?" Mel asked.

"Nothing, nothing at all," Dawn said keeping her smile under wraps.

Melanie looked at herself in the full length mirror, wow. She had never seen a more beautiful dress. She was wearing one of Donatella's latest creations. A floor length nude gown and it was littered with small hand sown Swarovski crystals, long sleeved yet backless till the hem hit her backbone. It was understated class and regal elegance. She was wearing three million dollars worth of diamond earrings from Harry Winston and a Swarovski clutch, her shoes were vintage Jimmy Choo but they accentuated the style of her dress.

At that moment, Dawn walked into the room and gasped, she was dressed in a luminous green sheath dress, "Oh bloody Nora, you look amazing..."

Melanie turned around, "You really think so?"

"I know so... do you have everything?... The guys are down in the lobby... and my, don't they look a sight."

"Just came for the food and the booze," Clive said looking up as Dawn walks from the lift, followed by Melanie, "Samuel."

Samuel looks up hastily from the paper in his hand and drops it back onto the table and takes a breathe. He can't believe his eyes, Melanie looks more then stunning, beautiful but there isn't a word in the dictionary that can describe how truly wonderful she looks. He walks up to her and cups her face in his hand and kisses her gently on the lips.

"If I'm to get a kiss like that and a welcome, I should dress up more often," Melanie quipped.

"I say, you wear nothing at all and you can have everything you want," Sam said spellbound.

"Can I have that in writing? I could do with a new house," Melanie laughed.

They walked the metres of red carpet, stopping for photographs, being bombarded by reporters asking questions about future projects and personal matters but Sam was in too good a mood to let anything annoy him. He noticed that a lot of the A-Listers bachelors were giving Melanie a good run over, obviously undressing her, the fabric to her dress almost sheer, if not for the crystals adorning it but wow, she was beautiful and he couldn't quite get over it.

Melanie poised herself on the red carpet, she was in the limelight and this was how it felt. Blimey, it was a lot of getting used to, especially as Nicole Kidman and Kate Winslet were a few metres from her, striking a pose.

"You think this is your ball court, better think again," came the slither of a female voice.

Melanie turned around and saw Gloria centimetres away, she was wearing a bright outlandish red in the wrong shape to her body and her blonde hair looked more bed hair than anything.

"I think you have a bit of red, out of place," Melanie said and walked away from her. The comment obviously made Gloria furious and she lunged forward, Melanie stepped out of the way and Gloria hit the floor and blanked out. Sam came to Melanie, "Are you alright?"

"Never better, you best take me away before I break out in laughter on the red carpet," Melanie smiled cheekily and Sam led her away.

"Are you going to get a gong, do you know?" Melanie asked.

"I'm not nominated for anything but I know that, I'm presenting something. Shall we take our seats, I think I'm to present something in the first half," he smiled.

"Yeah sure," Melanie said sitting down on the plush red seat, "Do you ever tire of these shows? I can't quite get used to it myself."

"Well, this is the first prestigious awards show, I've been too, it comes part of the job, so... I guess, I'd have to get used to it."

The lights dimmed and the show began. An hour and a half later, Sam was called to the stage and Melanie watched in awe as he stood at the stand alone.

"Good evening ladies and gentleman and welcome to the category of Best Romance Drama. This is a fairly new category and with permission from the board of directors for the Academy Awards, I would like to say that Romance is not sold to women solely, nor endorsed by men but it is the meeting of a man and a woman. The ideology of candle lit dinners and boxes of chocolates and endless amounts of flowers specify a genre that is often upheld to men to court women in such fashion, so I hope I do this justice and be separated from the rest when I ask Melanie to come to the stage."

Melanie froze, he couldn't possibly mean her, could he? "Yes, honey, I'm speaking to you," as if reading her mind. She got up slowly and made her way towards him on the stage and he met her at the stairs and walked her over to the podium, she saw hundreds upon hundreds of faces staring back at her and she felt such a sudden shift of nerves voice themselves and when she next looked at Sam, he was on bended knees. He held her left hand in his and in his right hand he held a massive sparkler of a ring, "Melanie, I hope you won't throttle me for doing this to you but I have good reason, would you do me the honour of being my wife, my friend, my confidant, the mother of my children. I can't think of my life before you were in it, nor a life without you... you have made me the most happiest man and...."

"Yes, I'll marry you." Melanie interrupted and she watched Sam beam with joy as he placed the ring on her finger, kissed her and spun her around on stage to an applause of hundreds. He put her down, without letting her go and said into the mic, "No award can bring out a sense of achievement, or go towards measuring how happy I am as I stand in front of you all. I'm getting married to the most amazing, funny and mesmerizingly beautiful woman in my world. Yeeeeeah!"

Sam led Melanie off stage to a rapturous applause and kissed her, "Thank you for making me so happy."

Melanie smiled, wiping tears from her face, "You're welcome."

"Let's get out of here!" Sam said.

"You read my mind," and they headed outside into the sunshine.

Melanie's Worth: Part Twelve

"This has got to be some twisted joke!" Melanie said as she stood up from the table grabbing her clutch bag, "I knew she was up to something when she said wear something special..."

"Come on, it can't be that bad... to have dinner with me for a couple of hours," Sam said instinctively, "We could at least order the lobster and their finest vintage wine and make it a night? What do you say?"

"No thanks," Melanie said making for the door. When she moved from the table, Sam saw she was wearing a long form fitting teal gown, with crystals embedded down the front, "Wow, you look more then just special, you look beautiful"

"Shut up!" Melanie said, "Don't say things you mean, when you obviously don't!"

"But I do." Sam said walking towards her, "Melanie, we have to talk."

Melanie spun around, "Talk about what? We pretty much said, all we needed to say a long time ago!"

"No, you obviously have some things to say because you're acting like this," Sam spat out.

"Stop putting words in my mouth," Melanie said through clenched teeth, "I've just had enough of you... enough of men and this bloody run around... nothing is ever straight forward and how I wish they were but they aren't, that's just my dumb luck!" She shrugged, looking beyond the point of Sam shoulder, to the diners who were all staring at them, "What the hell are you lot looking at?" And the diners went back to eating their food.

She spun on her heels towards the exit, leaving Sam stunned at her outburst. Sam caught up with her, only to grab her and push her into the nearest available elevator and as the doors closed, he leaned in towards her, "It's not a case of dumb luck, it's a case of you being a stubborn cow and not admitting your true feelings towards me, not to sound like an arrogant arse, but you obviously feel something towards me, otherwise why would you quit your job and go abroad... don't think I don't know... I came looking for you and Charice said you left... you felt your worth had been far removed... and that's my fault and I apologise, but I will not apologise for your lack of want, if you want me... all you have to do is say, " and with that he kissed her till the breathe from her own lungs was taken from her.

They just about made it to his hotel suite, their lips never leaving each other's, only to undo the buttons from his shirt or to unzip her dress. They fell onto the bed with a thud and their hands touching every crevice everywhere, Sam was gentle but his need was urgent as was Melanie's and they began to melt into each other, for they didn't know when one began and the other ended and as he began to fill her and so their rhythm of need and lust began.

Melanie stirred in his arms but that made Sam, only tighten his hold on her. He couldn't believe it, they had made love and now, he knew for certain, he had fallen in love with her. He knew right now, wasn't the ideal time to tell her so but now, he only wished she felt the same way. He hadn't planned on saying all that stuff to her in the elevator but he was so pissed off at her eagerness to leave, she had left him with no choice but to say it like it is. She had been stunned but he didn't care, all that mattered was that he could put this fire inside him to rest and he knew exactly how.

Melanie's Worth: Part Eleven

"So, how's everything going with you and Clive?" Melanie asked.

"Things are great, I've just started my own online company," Dawn began and then rubbed her stomach.

Melanie watched the movements of her hand over her belly, "You're not pregnant are you?!"

Dawn blushed, "I am expecting a wee little one."

Melanie hugged her, "I'm so glad for you, when is he or she expected?"

"It's gonna be a Christmas baby, I can't wait for what this little one's going to look like," Dawn said enthused.

"I'm sure it's gonna be grand," Melanie said.

"What's new with you?" Dawn said as she withdrew her site pass and said to the guard that Melanie was with her.

"New with me? Just what I said really..." Melanie said half hearted, "No prospective anything, unfortunately."

"Shame, a pretty thing like you." Dawn said and they both quietened. Melanie watched Dawn's gaze, transfixed on her husband who was currently acting on set. Melanie refused to compare herself to Dawn, Dawn was one of her good friends and they were two different people, there was no way she was going to compare what Dawn had and what she didn't.

Melanie watched as a man stumbled into the throngs of people acting on set and attack Clive. He was tall and broad and he had dark hair and a beard. Melanie heard the director say 'cut' and suddenly the crowd dispersed leaving Clive and the man standing. The director called for a break for twenty minutes and went in search of food from the kiosk.

Clive walked towards Dawn with the man in step beside him and as they were walking, it only occurred to Melanie that the man she thought looked familiar was Sam.

Sam was talking to Clive about the scene they just done and pounded each other's back for big effort. As the director called for a twenty minute break, Clive walked towards his wife Dawn who was a few metres away and having met Dawn a few days ago joined him. As he looked up, he realised that Dawn had a companion with her. As he approached, his heart started hammering against his chest. She was dressed in denim blue jeans and a floral black top with a grey long cardigan, her hair was loose on her shoulders and she was wearing sunglasses, ones where he couldn't see her eyes and he didn't know whether she knew it was him or not.

Clive kissed his wife on the lips.

Dawn looked at Sam and then back at Mel, there was definitely something going on between them but she didn't want to seem rude, so she made introductions.

"Sam, I would like to introduce you to a very good friend of mine, Melanie... Mel, this is Sam Worthington."

They hesitantly shook hands and Melanie remained composed, saying absolutely nothing until...

"Well, if you excuse me, I really ought to get going," Melanie said detached, as she turned towards Dawn, "Is your number still the same?"

"Yeah and we're staying at the Beverley Wiltshire, if you want to join us for dinner say tomorrow or something?" Dawn offered.

"I'll let you know," Melanie said, "Goodbye," and made her way out of set.

Sam watched her swiftly exit and decided to let her go. He wasn't going to run after her, she seemed like she couldn't get away fast enough. It had been a year and half since the divorce and he had cut his ties with Gloria, the divorce had been messy but he was glad it was over. He gave her what she wanted, the house and all the other necessities to fuel her lifestyle. And from then, he was moving from script to script, set to set and he hadn't actually found a place to settle yet. Seeing Mel in such a long time, did funny things to him, made him think profusely about finding a place for himself and as he was thinking, he realised that both Clive and Dawn were eyeing him speculatively.

"So, how do you know Mel?" Dawn asked inquisitively.

"We knew each a long time ago," Sam said.

"What are you doing tomorrow evening? Or does that depend on filming?" Dawn asked to no one.

"It depends on filming but I think they're going with the location manager to the Canyon to do some filming of opening shots or something," Sam replied, "If you excuse me, I think the make-up guys want to prim and prop me."

"There's definitely something there... I don't necessarily want to know what it is but it would be interesting to see what they're like just the two of them together..." Dawn said.

"You're not thinking of Matchmaking the two of them, are you?"Clive said, hugging his wife.

"Yeah, didn't you feel the sparks fly?" Dawn said.

"Not really, but then again... I really wasn't paying attention." he said mischievously.

"Don't tell me, you were staring at my boobs again!" and with that Dawn poked him in the shoulder.

Melanie's Worth: Part Ten

Melanie put the key into the large oak door and pushed forward. They both walked into a beautiful marble hallway with a simple chandelier hanging above.

"Who did you say this belonged to?" Sam asked, his holdall flung around his shoulder as he surveyed his surroundings.

"My boss's," Melanie replied, "I knew she was rich, but I didn't know she was loaded."

"Yeah, it's a nice place... what's to eat?" Sam said.

"Hungry already?" Melanie asked, stupid question to ask considering he just asked for food, she really must get it together. She dumped her luggage near the ornate table and walked towards the living room, outside was a nine metre pool, "Wow, this is some place... the pool even looks over the cliff, it's one of those miragey type places, if you swim towards the end, it's like you're bound to fall off." Mel said to the air. She turned around and noticed that Sam had disappeared. She made her way out of the living room and into the kitchen where he was playing with a black cat. He looked all lovable.

"What you got there?" Melanie said, then realising she sounded stupid, "Besides a cat, how did it get here?"

"Cat flap... I presume. The fridge is fully stocked... and you never guess what I found out..." as he pointed downwards, "Those steps lead to the wine cellar, they have everything done there, not that I know what everything is but if your boss will let us, we can open a bottle of her finest Champagne and sit by the pool. I could do with a beer though, not a champagne person."

"Alcohol, it'll pass. Charice did say, to make ourselves at home. I'm sure it's not a problem."

"What did you want to do today?" Sam asked Melanie.

"We can do exactly that, just sit by the pool."

A few hours later, Melanie sat by the pool in her bikini and sarong on one of the sun loungers with a smile on her face and a champagne flute in her hand. Sam was smiling back at her, with a bottle of San Miguel in his hand. He had chosen to wear his khaki beige slacks and no shirt, which was fine for Mel, because he was hot and there wasn't anything sexier then a man with a pack of abs.

"What are you thinking about Mel?" Sam said mischievously as he gazed at her.

"Nothin'," she said laughing.

"I bet you were thinking about getting me naked," Sam said.

"Uh... no... not at all," Melanie denied, but she was such a bad liar, he would see right through her.

"Come on, the temptation is far too great to just be thinking potted plants and err swimming pools... I know in the last twenty minutes, I have thought about you half a dozen times minus the swimsuit and sarong," Sam said devilishly.

Melanie blushed, "Sam, I feign ignorance... that is just the beer talking."

"Well I feign the beer, because it really is your body doing the talking," Sam said back, "Don't get the wrong idea, I didn't come with you to have mad passionate fling... I..."

"I know, I'll probably sell myself short here... but let's just throw caution to the wind and see how it's goes." Melanie interrupted, "I'm not really one for, planning ahead... it never really materialises... I haven't really been lucky in anything but my job... without it... I'm nothing."

"I don't believe that... the person you are isn't all in the making of other people, I think, it really is you who makes you... despite the past and all that shit..."

"Can I ask you a question?" Melanie asked and Sam nodded, "How did you meet her?"

Sam took a deep breathe, "We had mutual friends, she was very popular but I never really took it into account... because I guess love is blind when it comes to a beautiful woman... your eyes want to see all the good pleasing things but it's the heart that takes a back seat when you know things are off. Thinking back now, I realise she was off from the get go, but I believed she was a good person because she was ludicrously beautiful but where has it got me?" Sam shrugged, "I don't want to talk about her, I came here with you, not to talk about her."

"I have to know this, before anything can go ahead but do you still love her?" Melanie asked, "Is your heart still with her?"

Sam paused, "Yes,"

That was all Melanie needed to know and God, she was stupid. She was so stupid! She wished she could click her fingers and she was back home, curled up in a duvet away from it all. It seemed as if her luck hadn't changed either and deep inside, she felt ten times as worse. Oh, she hated karma, it always took a bloody long time and now, as she sat alone with her head in her hands a few hours later, she knew this trip had been a mistake. She had, had such high hopes for a relationship, for someone to care for her, for something, anything, even if it includes a few workouts with the unobtainable Sam, she was there... so what if she was selling herself short. She always sold herself short. This hope of something to come, was fantasy.

Sam had left an hour ago, after the earlier revelation, it had been awkward between them and they just couldn't afford to spend the rest of their time together with that tidbit of information separating them. So, he had thanked her for the time that they did spend and he said his goodbyes. Melanie broke down in tears and as she uncorked the bottle of Dom Perignon, continued to drown out her sorrows.

As several seasons changed and the weather became warmer then cooler, then cold. Melanie had decided, enough was enough. She handed in her notice of resignation to the horror and bewilderment of Charice, who had hoped that she and Sam would have sorted out their feelings and when she had spoken to Charice and confirmed that Sam was still in love with his ex-wife. Charice was horrified, she had a distinct feeling that Sam was for her and unfortunately he wasn't. Which kicked karma in the butt. With Melanie's resignation, she opted to move out of her apartment and move abroad to Los Angeles into a rented apartment in Burbank, California. She wasn't totally alone, but loneliness she craved.

Her apartment was cosy, but she couldn't afford to splash out on furnishings because she had to find a new job, a new career before she could settle. As she popped on her shades and read the LA Times paper, scanning for any prospective job roles, she took a sip of her frappacino and stepped out onto the curb. There were definitely roles advertising for extras, coffee machine technicians and chefs, but nothing like that appealed to her. She crossed the road and walked down Hollywood Boulevard, she was determined to make things work out for her, she wasn't going to take another battering if her life depended on it.

She looked up, just in time to see someone careen towards her. She side stepped, only to bump into someone coming out of the coffee shop. Their coffee spilling across the pavement.

"Oh my God! I'm sorry!" she said looking at the mess on the floor and then looked up.

"Melanie, is that you?" the female squeaked.

"Dawn! Oh my God! What are you doing here?" Melanie screamed, the coffees forgotten.

"I'm here with my husband... he's doing a film, so I'll be here for the next month. More to say, what the bloody hell are you doing here?" Dawn asked.

"I made the big leap! I quit my job and moved over here," Melanie said.

"Sounds drastic, what prompted that?" Dawn not wasting time with chitchat.

"Long story, where are you headed now?" Melanie asked.

"I was bringing Clive some coffee but I guess it wasn't meant to be," she smiled, "Never mind, why don't you come along to the set, only if you haven't got anything planned. It's only down the road but it's a closed set."

Melanie smiled, "I would love that."